October 07, (THEWILL) – The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has assured anti-corruption agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), of the continuous support of the Judiciary in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Justice Kekere-Ekun made the commitment on Monday, at a 2-day capacity building workshop in Abuja.
Organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI), for Justices and judges in Nigeria, the workshop is aimed at fostering collaboration between the Judiciary and the anti-graft agency towards enhancing the dispensation of justice in Nigeria.
Stressing the vital role of Judiciary in the fight against corruption, Justice Kekere-Ekun, who called for collaboration with the various anti-graft agencies, however, charged them to ensure thorough investigation before corrupt suspects are arraigned in courts.
THEWILL reports that the CJN remarks was in response to earlier concerns raised by the EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, that the activities of the anti-graft agency have continued to be impeded by court orders restraining it from carrying out its investigation.
The EFCC Chairman specifically pointed out that the anti-graft agency is unable to carry out investigations in 10 states in Nigeria, as a result of court orders restraining it.
He lamented the frequent adjournment of high-profile cases by courts, contempt orders and undue reliance on technical grounds.
Olukoyede said a situation where suspects rush to court to obtain restraining orders against the EFCC from arresting them, must be discouraged by courts.
On his part, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, emphasised the need for a centralised data system that can be syndicated among anti-graft agencies.
